With LADY GAGA and RIHANNA now drinking Irish Whiskey sales in the U.S. top a staggering 62,000 bottles EVERY DAY

Cheers! as they say in the States, or Slainte as we say here at home. Distillers are raising a glass to themselves for helping America quench its ever-growing thirst for Irish whiskey. The latest export figures to the US revealed that 22.5million bottles of Irish whiskey were sent to the US last year – a 17.5per cent rise and worth a staggering €675million.

Irish Whiskey fan Rihanna has the spirit while on tour

Smooth Irish whiskey exports of 2.5million cases across the Atlantic easily outstripped US imports of single malt Scotch, which notched up 1.8million cases, according to the US-based Distilled Spirits Council.Bosses at Jameson were celebrating the news yesterday.A spokesman said: ‘Much of Jameson’s success in the US can be attributed to a strong advocacy base amongst its target consumers, seeing them connect with its great taste, quality and authentic heritage.

Jameson sales continue to grow in the U.S.

The whiskey has built a strong link with the film industry in its marketing and has many A-list fans including singers Lady Gaga, who appeared on stage at an Aviva Stadium concert famously swigging straight from the green-bottle, and Rihanna.

She later added: ‘I have made so much of my music with Jameson. I’m not being paid a cent to advertise the whiskey. I should be. The whiskey has made my new songs.’ Her chart rival Barbados-born Rihanna, 26 later this month(feb), offered a rousing tribute in Cheers (Drink to That), a drinking song she released two years ago: ‘Cheers to the freakin’ weekend, I drink to that, yeah, yeah. Oh, let the Jameson sink in, I drink to that, yeah, yeah.’

Such fortunate tributes were described by Jameson distiller and brand ambassador Brian Nation as publicity ‘you can’t pay for’. As well as its backing of film projects, Jameson gets a massive boost from St Patrick’s Day each year, when most of America turns green for the day.

As well as Irish whiskey’s success, US total whiskey sales growth was up 1.9per cent to about 206 million cases. Overall US domestic retail sales were estimated at upward of $66 billion – €50billion – US-based Distilled Spirits Council said.

Jameson whiskey landed US basketball star Dennis Rodman in trouble last month with thte US authorities who investigated claims he illegally exported luxury goods to North Korea. The US Treasury is looking into reports that 52-year-old Rodman took thousands of dollars worth of gifts to Pyongyang for despot Kim Jong-un’s 31st birthday – including hundreds of Euro-worth of Jameson whiskey.